Wasim Jaffer Reckons Players Picked For Australia Tests Should Feature In Ranji Trophy Instead Of Playing In New Zealand Dead Rubber

Jan 22, 2023 at 5:02 PM

facebook iconlinkedin iconmail icontwitter iconWhatsApp iconTelegram icon
Wasim Jaffer Reckons Players Picked For Australia Tests Should Feature In Ranji Trophy Instead Of Playing In New Zealand Dead Rubber

Wasim Jaffer reckons India’s key players must feature in the Ranji Trophy instead of the dead rubber against the visitors on Tuesday (January 24) with the one-day series against New Zealand already in the bag. The former India opener made the observation while keeping the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia in mind.

The Men in Blue thumped New Zealand by eight wickets in Raipur on Saturday (January 21) to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. The next round of the Ranji Trophy begins on January 24, the same day as India’s third ODI against the Kiwis, which will be played at the Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore.

Wasim Jaffer. Image Credits: Twitter
Wasim Jaffer. Image Credits: Twitter

Wasim Jaffer Thinks Indian Test Players Should Think Of Playing Ranji Trophy Instead Of Dead Rubber- The 3rd ODI Against Kiwis To Prepare For Australia Test Series

India haven’t played a lot of Tests recently. While KL Rahul and Virat Kohli were part of the 2-0 triumph in Bangladesh in December 2022, all-format captain Rohit Sharma hasn’t played a Test since March 2022.

Admitting that Team India players need some red ball practice, Wasim Jaffer said during a discussion: “I think it (playing Ranji Trophy) will make a lot of sense. If they play maybe one game – two innings in a Ranji game – that will surely help. No matter how experienced you are, you surely need that game time, especially in red ball cricket. You don’t want to be undercooked when you play that first Test.”

KL Rahul (Image Credit: Twitter)
KL Rahul (Image Credit: Twitter)

Elaborating on the significance of the Test series, Wasim Jaffer added that India need to go in with the best preparation possible.

Wasim Jaffer said: “It’s a huge series from all perspectives – whether it’s the World Test Championship (WTC) final that India can get into or can become world No. 1 Test side as well. India need to do everything that they can so they are ready for that first Test match.

“Virat Kohli hasn’t played a lot of Test cricket for a while; Rohit and lot of others as well.”

While India won the Test series in Bangladesh, both Virat Kohli and KL Rahul failed to make an impact in the two red-ball games on tour.

On Saturday, January 21, India hammered New Zealand by 8 wickets in the second ODI in Raipur to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series. The third ODI, which will be a dead rubber, will be held in Indore on Tuesday, January 24. India will next play a three-match T20I series against the Kiwis on January 27, 29 and February 1.

Wasim Jaffer: It Makes Sense To Send KS Bharat To Play Ranji Game As He’s Unlikely To Play The 3rd ODI

Continuing with the discussion, Wasim Jaffer said that KS Bharat should definitely be released from the one-day squad and allowed to play Ranji Trophy, as he’s highly unlikely to feature in the Indore ODI.

Speaking about the keeper-batter, Wasim Jaffer said: “(It is) more likely that KS Bharat is not going to play the third ODI. It makes sense to send him to play that Ranji game. He is more likely to play in place of Rishabh Pant. He has big shoes to fill. He is going to play a lot of Test cricket in Pant’s absence.”

KS Bharat (Image Source: Twitter)
KS Bharat (Image Source: Twitter)

With Rishabh Pant out of action following his horrific car accident, KS Bharat is likely to take over keeping duties in Tests. Ishan Kishan has been picked as the other option behind the stumps for the first two Tests against Australia.

Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant met with an accident and suffered multiple injuries after his Mercedes hit a road divider and caught fire on the Delhi-Dehradun highway on December 30. The left-handed batter will be sidelined for most of the 2023 season.

The Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2023 will be played across four different venues in India. The Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Jamtha, Nagpur will host the first Test from February 9 to 13, and the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi will host the second Test from February 17 to 21.

The third Test will be played at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamsala from March 1 to 5 and the fourth Test will be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad from March 9 to 13.

Related Article
Only Going To Benefit Mumbai Indians: Sunil Gavaskar On Rohit Sharma’s Sacking As Captain
Only Going To Benefit Mumbai Indians: Sunil Gavaskar On Rohit Sharma’s Sacking As Captain

Feb 14, 2024, 9:11 AM


I Interact With Players Individually: Rohit Sharma Opens Up On Leadership Qualities
I Interact With Players Individually: Rohit Sharma Opens Up On Leadership Qualities

Feb 10, 2024, 10:08 AM


IPL 2024: Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya Unfollow Each Other On Instagram
IPL 2024: Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya Unfollow Each Other On Instagram

Feb 8, 2024, 1:41 PM


IND vs ENG: We Do All Of Our Conversations Away From The Game And Just That Enjoyment – Joe Root
IND vs ENG: We Do All Of Our Conversations Away From The Game And Just That Enjoyment – Joe Root

Feb 7, 2024, 3:38 PM


IND vs ENG: There Are A Few Concerns When You Look At The Team – Zaheer Khan On Areas Team India Needs To Work For Next Three Games
IND vs ENG: There Are A Few Concerns When You Look At The Team – Zaheer Khan On Areas Team India Needs To Work For Next Three Games

Feb 7, 2024, 2:43 PM


IPL 2024: I Think It’s Just More Of A Cricketing Decision That Was Made – Mark Boucher On Mumbai Indians Decision To Replace Rohit Sharma With Hardik Pandya
IPL 2024: I Think It’s Just More Of A Cricketing Decision That Was Made – Mark Boucher On Mumbai Indians Decision To Replace Rohit Sharma With Hardik Pandya

Feb 6, 2024, 1:31 PM


Desktop Banner
Mobile Banner